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We Are Almost There

Arlen L. Chitwood

Chapter 1

Always In Remembrance (1)

Things that Christians should know and never forget

Grace
and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus
our Lord,

as His
divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and
godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

by which
have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,
that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

But also
for this very reason,
giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to
virtue knowledge,

to
knowledge self-control,
to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

to
godliness brotherly kindness,
and to brotherly kindness love.

For if
these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-8 [NKJV])

In verse
two, any thought of “peace,” as anything else in
Scripture, MUST be preceded by God’s grace. And a multiplication of
grace and peace is seen in connection with, or through, “knowledge
[‘mature knowledge’] of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

Then in
verse three, “all things that pertain to life and
godliness” are seen being manifested in a Christian’s life
through this same “knowledge [‘mature knowledge’] of Him
that hath called us by glory and virtue.”

Then in
verse eight, a manifestation of seven qualities in the
Christian life, dealt with in verses five through seven,
will result in fruitfulness in connection with “the knowledge
[‘mature knowledge’] of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(The regular word for “knowledge”
in the Greek text is gnosis. The word used in vv. 2,
3, and 8 is an intensified form of this word —
epignosis [the preposition epi prefixed to the word,
intensifying the word, referring to a knowledge beyond that which is
described by gnosis,i.e., a more mature knowledge of
the subject at hand].

Also, the structure of the Greek
text beginning the epistle in v. 1 [which should read, “…God,
who is our Savior Jesus Christ”] would allow v. 2 [a similar
structure in the Greek text] to be understood in this same respect —
i.e., . . . through the mature knowledge of God, who is
the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Note the
seven things listed in verses five through seven,
inseparably connected with and emanating out of faith in relation
to the things seen in the preceding verses. And, as well, with
these qualities present in a Christian’s life,that which
are seen in verse eight will be the end result.
Then the succeeding three verses form both negative (v. 9)
and positive (v. 10) commentary, taking matters to their full
end relative to the issue at hand (v. 11).

“Add
to [‘Supply in’] Your Faith”

“Faith”
is seen first, separate from the seven qualities that are
then listed, qualities that should be present in every Christian’s
life, though absent in varying degrees in almost every Christian’s
life. None of the seven qualities can be separated from “faith.”
That is plainly seen from both the manner in which the Greek text is
structured, along with that which is clearly stated in Hebrews
11:6:

But
without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Thus,
even without the benefit of the structure of the Greek text in 2
Peter 1:5-7, it could only be plain from Hebrews 11:6
that “faith” has to be seen as an inseparable part of each of the
seven qualities in these verses. And “faith,” along with each of
the seven qualities, is articular. It is not just any faith
or any quality among those listed. Rather, a definite “faith” is
inseparably connected with seven definite, particular
qualities in relation to the subject matter at hand — things
surrounding the manner in which Christians are to conduct their
lives in relation to the coming kingdom of Christ.

Each of
the following seven sections in this chapter, dealing briefly with
these seven qualities, will begin with the verse where the word from
the KJV translation is shown at the beginning. The translation of
the verse in each instance is the author’s, which one will find to
be closer to the NASB than to the KJV. And the use of definite
articles from the Greek text, as previously referenced, is shown in
brackets.

Also,
the way verse five begins as it introduces the first quality should
be seen as carrying through into each of the other six qualities,
though it is not repeated.

1) Virtue (v.
5)

“For
this very reason, having given all diligence, supply in your [the]
faith [the] morality; and in [the] morality
[the] knowledge”;

The word
translated “morality” (“virtue,” KJV) is arete in the Greek
text. This word has to do with moral behavior, with every virtue of
righteousness being exhibited in one’s life.

2) Knowledge (v.
5)

“For
this very reason, having given all diligence, supply in your [the]
faith [the] morality; and in [the] morality [the]
knowledge”;

The word
translated “knowledge” is gnosis in the Greek text. As
previously seen, this is the regular word for knowledge.
Epignosis (mature knowledge), as seen in verses two,
three, and eight, would not be used here, for the text is
referencing an accumulation of knowledge over time which builds into
and results in epignosis.

And this
would go hand-in-hand with “faith,” for “knowledge” is simply an
accumulation of facts, which, in this case,
would come from the Word; and “faith” is believing that which
God has stated about a matter in His Word.

The word
translated “patient endurance” (“patience,” KJV) is hupomone
in the Greek text. This word has to do with steadfastness,
perseverance, as one exercises continuous patience in all things
(sufferings, etc.) that life brings one’s way.

The word
translated “brotherly love” (“brotherly kindness,” KJV) is
philadelphia in the Greek text. This is a compound word (philos,
“love”; and adelphos, “brother”), and a combination of the
two words has to do with exactly what the words mean — “brotherly
love,” Christians loving one another.

The word
translated “love” (“charity,” KJV) is agape in the Greek
text.

There
are two words in the Greek text for “love” — the previous word,
philos (usually referenced in its verb form, phileo), and
agape (verb form, agapao).

The two
words are, at times, used interchangeably in Scripture (e.g., both
words are used of the Father’s love for His Son [John 3:35;
5:20], and the Father’s love in this respect cannot change).
But, in relation to a Christian’s love for God, only one word is
used in the New Testament (agape).

Though
the words can be used interchangeably, when compared one with the
other, agape is always seen as the higher form of the two,
the highest form that love can take; and, as previously stated,
it is the only form that man is commanded to exercise toward God (cf.Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27; 1 Corinthians 8:3).

Note
1 John 4:7, 8 in this respect, where agape, or a
form of the word, is used throughout:

Beloved,
let us love one another, for love is of God; and
everyone who loves is born of God [has been brought forth from
above, not from below] and knows God [Gk., gnosis,
having to do with a knowledge gained by experience].

He who
does not love does not know God,
for God is love (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:1ff).

“If
These Things Are Yours and Abound…”

Thus,
there are seven qualities that should be present in the life of
every Christian — morality, knowledge (of the Word),
self-control, patient endurance, godliness,
brotherly love, and love (agape, the highest
form). And these seven qualities are seen, contextually, in
relation to Christians possessing a mature knowledge of the things
having to do with present Christian living in relation to the coming
kingdom of Christ (vv. 1-11).

Continuing from the thought of “love” (agape) in verse
seven, beginning verse eight, one thing in the entire
matter (that which is seen in the introductory seven verses) goes
hand-in-hand with all else. The abounding presence in one’s life of
the seven things listed in verses five through seven —
one built upon the other, all in connection with “faith” and that
which is seen in the opening four verses, with nothing left out —
will result in that which is stated in verse eight.

For if
these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge [epignosis,
‘mature knowledge’] of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

For all
practical purposes, that which is seen in verse eight will
automatically occur. It can’t help but occur.
These seven things present and abounding in one’s life will result
in that person being “fruitful in the knowledge [‘mature knowledge’]
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

And
this, in turn, will lead to that which is seen in verses eleven
and twelve — realizing one’s calling (being
called out of the called [ref. Chapter 2 in this book]) by and
through having an abundant entrance into the coming kingdom.

But the
Christian lacking these things is seen in a completely opposite
respect in verse nine. He is seen as blind, one who could
not possibly be fruitful, and one who is completely separated from
anything having to do with his calling in the following verse (v.
10 [seen in the latter part of v. 9 relative to the
purpose for his salvation]).